Chapter 86.1

Each person had a small glass cup in front of them. Lu Yu poured himself a drink and then poured a glass for Gu Shizhou and Chen Yao. Jiang Nian, feeling somewhat guilty, lowered her head to eat, worried about the three men. She couldn’t help but feel a bit of pity for them, knowing that they would have to endure the effects of the alcohol tonight.

Yu Liang was the first to raise his glass and toast Lu Yu and the others. Then, everyone downed their drinks in one gulp.

Jiang Nian: …

She glanced at Lu Yu, who appeared calm, and proceeded to refill everyone’s glasses.

Commander Song had given quite a bit of alcohol. Jiang Nian estimated that each person could have about four glasses. She ate a piece of chicken and then discreetly observed Yu Liang and Chen Yao across from her. So far, their faces showed no changes. After eating some food, they finished their drinks and then divided the remaining alcohol.

Jiang Nian drank hot water, listening to the men talk about trivial matters within the regiment.

After a while, Chen Yao finally brought up the purpose of his visit. He drank half a glass of alcohol, coughed lightly, and said to Jiang Nian, “Sister-in-law, I have a favor to ask of you.”

After saying that, he scratched the back of his head embarrassedly.

Yu Liang watched Chen Yao with a playful and amused smile.

Gu Shizhou and Lu Yu also smiled without saying anything.

Curious, Jiang Nian took a sip of water and asked, “What is it?”

Chen Yao smiled shyly and said, “I would like you to set me up with Comrade Shu Xue from the embroidery shop.”

Jiang Nian was taken aback, not expecting Chen Yao to ask her for this.

“Sister-in-law, what do you think?” Yu Liang asked.

Chen Yao also looked nervously at Jiang Nian, worried that Shu Xue might already be involved with someone else or that Jiang Nian might not agree. The room, which had been lively a moment ago, suddenly fell silent. Lu Yu picked up a piece of meat and placed it on Jiang Nian’s plate. “If it’s inconvenient, it’s okay.”

Jiang Nian shook her head. “It’s not inconvenient.”

She was just a bit surprised since Chen Yao had only met Shu Xue two or three times. She hadn’t considered this possibility. So she said, “I can’t make decisions for Shu Xue. How about this? I’ll call her tomorrow and ask. If she’s willing, I’ll set you two up.”

Hearing this, Chen Yao felt relieved, almost certain that Shu Xue was not seeing anyone. He lifted his glass and stood up, saying to Jiang Nian, “Sister-in-law, thank you. If this works out, I’ll have my future children recognize you as their godmother!”

Jiang Nian: …

Really, that’s not necessary.

After Chen Yao sat down, he continued talking with Yu Liang. They had almost finished eating. Gu Shizhou had unbuttoned two buttons of his collar and was sweating. Chen Yao and Yu Liang also felt hot, rolling up their sleeves with sweat on their foreheads. Yu Liang said, “What kind of alcohol is this? Why is the aftereffect so strong?”

Chen Yao picked up the bottle to check. It was a glass bottle, and he couldn’t tell much from it.

Lu Yu drank the remaining half a glass. When the three men looked at him, he said calmly, “It’s deer antler wine, a gift from my old commander.”

Gu Shizhou: …

Chen Yao: …

Yu Liang: …

Jiang Nian lowered her head and ate a few bites of food, feeling a bit guilty.

Chen Yao swallowed hard, looking at the empty bottle, suddenly breaking out in a cold sweat.

Gu Shizhou furrowed his brow, rubbing his temples, and turned to look at Lu Yu, his dark eyes showing some agitation. “Did you do this on purpose?”

Lu Yu looked up, meeting Gu Shizhou’s gaze with a smile on his lips. “It’s cold in the winter. I thought I’d warm you up.”

Gu Shizhou: …

Chen Yao: …

Yu Liang: …

Jiang Nian quickly put down her chopsticks, stood up, and said, “I’m full.”

She then quickly got up and went to the bathroom. Once inside, she covered her mouth, unable to hold back her laughter. She realized that Lu Yu could be truly wicked when he wanted to be.

After finishing the meal, Chen Yao and the others left. When Jiang Nian came out of the bathroom, she saw them wearing only thin shirts, their foreheads sweating, holding their jackets but not wearing them. She suddenly felt that Commander Song’s gift of deer antler wine was quite powerful.

She paused, turning to look at Lu Yu, noticing that he wasn’t much better off either. He wore a thin white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and was sweating profusely.

Jiang Nian: …

This was a case of harming the enemy a thousand times but hurting oneself eight hundred^[1]A more accurate way to say it is Killing 1,000 enemy soldiers but losing 800 of your own. It’s similar to the much less bloody English idiom Take one step forward and two steps back, or a … Continue reading.

After they left, Lu Yu cleaned up the dishes. Jiang Nian wiped down the table and cleaned up. When she entered the kitchen, Lu Yu had almost finished tidying up. She asked worriedly, “How are you feeling?”

Lu Yu put the dishes into the cabinet, turned to look at Jiang Nian, who was standing by the cutting board, and replied hoarsely, “I’m fine.”

He reeked of alcohol, and as he approached her, the smell gradually enveloped her.

Jiang Nian’s eyelids fluttered, and her heartbeat quickened. Even her breathing became rapid. She bit her lip and slowly looked up at Lu Yu, who was now very close. He leaned down, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. The scent of alcohol lingered between them.

Jiang Nian felt like she was drunk without having drunk any alcohol.

Lu Yu’s kiss was heavy with tenderness. She could feel that beneath his gentle surface lay a restrained wildness.

He was afraid of hurting her.

Jiang Nian’s eyelashes trembled. She closed her eyes and hugged Lu Yu’s lean waist. Through his thin shirt, she could clearly feel the firm, taut muscles underneath, burning hot.

“Nian Nian.”

Lu Yu stepped back a bit, his breath carrying the intoxicating scent of alcohol, “It’s getting late.”

He kissed Jiang Nian on her eyelash, then bent down to pick her up, supporting her soft buttocks with his arm as he walked towards the bedroom. The sudden elevation startled Jiang Nian, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around Lu Yu’s shoulders. Looking at his flushed face covered with sweat, her heart raced wildly.

Lu Yu had drunk the deer antler wine, so tonight…

Jiang Nian couldn’t even imagine whether she could handle it. Her fingers clenched on Lu Yu’s shoulders, and even when he placed her on the bed, she still felt a bit dazed. Lu Yu gazed at her slightly raised neck, exposing her delicate collarbone. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and he leaned in to kiss her neck.

This time, the kiss was devoid of any tenderness, filled with raw wildness.

Jiang Nian almost melted into Lu Yu’s arms. Her hand, limp on the bedding, was held by Lu Yu. His fingers interlaced with hers, giving her hand a squeeze. He kissed her on the nose, on her eyelashes, and Jiang Nian saw the red veins spreading in his eyes. The scorching heat of his breath made her feel hot too.

“Lu Yu…”

Jiang Nian’s voice was soft and a bit hoarse.

Lu Yu buried his head in Jiang Nian’s neck, kissing her collarbone. Sensing her slight trembling, he hoarsely said, “You should sleep early. I’ll sleep in the dormitory tonight.”

Jiang Nian: ???

She was stunned, unable to process it for a moment.

Seeing her confused look, Lu Yu’s heart softened. He kissed her lips again, “Not tonight; it would hurt you.”

The aftereffects of the wine were strong, and he feared losing control once he started.

Jiang Nian’s face turned red. She bit her lower lip and nodded gently, “Okay.”

Lu Yu stayed for a while before leaving. The room still had a lingering smell of alcohol. Jiang Nian washed her face in the bathroom, patted her burning cheeks, and lay on the bed for a while before falling asleep.